What is a fan rated ceiling box?

A ceiling fan rated electrical box is used to house electrical wire connections and properly support heavy fixtures such as your Hunter Fan. NOTE: We recommend you hire a certified electrician if you don’t have a ceiling fan rated electrical box and need one installed. …

When an outlet box is to be installed to support a ceiling fan how must it be marked?

They install outlet boxes marked “Acceptable for fan support” at all ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures. How can you tell whether a metallic or nonmetallic outlet box is suitable for safely supporting a ceiling fan? Boxes must be listed to support ceiling fans and marked as “Acceptable for fan support.”

Will a metal box hold a ceiling fan?

Conventional metal or plastic rough-in boxes aren’t supposed to hold any more than 50 pounds, and most fans exert more force than that. Consequently, to hang one you need a support system consisting of a metal box attached to blocking or metal rods that you can secure to the ceiling joists.

Are pancake boxes rated for ceiling fans?

Quite often, a fan rated pancake box is used when roughing in the ceiling fan installation. Most ceiling fan canopies are NOT marked with a cubic inch volume. If the fan canopy is NOT marked with a cubic inch volume, its volume CANNOT be considered to allow an overfilled pancake box to remain as is.

Do ceiling fans need a special box?

Ceiling fans need to be properly anchored to an electric ceiling box that’s designed to hold a heavy fixture. It will not only hold the wiring, but also support the full weight of the fan. Make sure the electrical box that holds the ceiling fan in place is fan-rated.

Do junction boxes need accessible?

Junction box covers must remain accessible; they cannot be covered with drywall or other surface material. A junction box is most often used where an electrical circuit branches off in two or more directions from a location where an outlet or fixture is not practical.

How do you know if a ceiling fan is wired?

The first step is to look in the ceiling box and count the wires (by color) that are there. Don’t do this without turning off the breaker (turning off the wall switch is not good enough), and don’t disconnect anything without very, very carefully labeling and recording existing connections.

How much weight can a ceiling electrical box support?

All ceiling boxes are required to support at least 50 pounds (NEC 314.27(A)), so you can assume the box will be able to support a simple light fixture. Boxes that are designed to support ceiling fans must be labeled as such, and must have a label listing the weight it can support if over 35 pounds (NEC 314.27(D)).

How do I know if my pancake box is fan rated?

If the box was installed recently in accordance with National Electrical Code (NEC), the box should be labeled if it’s rated to support a ceiling fan.

What type and size of box may be used for the ceiling fan light wall box?

octagon
An octagon electrical box is a common type of box that is typically used for installing light fixtures on a wall or ceiling. They are usually made of metal and come in standard sizes of 4 x 4 inches, and in depths of 1 1/4, 1 1/2, and 2 1/8 inches deep.

How much weight can a ceiling box support?

70 lbs.
Mounting screws go through box and into joist. Box will support fans up to 70 lbs. and fixtures up to 90 lbs. TP275 – 70 lbs. max.